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A sweeping new ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll reveals that nearly two-thirds of Americans disapprove of former President Donald Trump’s tariffs, with 71% blaming them for fueling inflation across the U.S. economy.
The findings mark a significant setback for Trump just over 100 days into his second term, with only 39% approving of his overall job performance—an all-time low for any modern president at this stage, according to polls dating back to 1945. Fifty-five percent of respondents said they disapprove of Trump’s presidency, while 72% fear his economic policies could trigger a recession in the near future.
“Seventy-three percent said the economy is in bad shape, and 53% believe it’s gotten worse since Trump took office again,” the survey noted. Among those polled, 41% said their personal finances have deteriorated under his leadership—mirroring dissatisfaction levels last seen during President Joe Biden’s administration.
Public anger seems focused especially on trade policy. Despite Trump’s assurances that tariffs would strengthen the U.S. economy long-term, just 31% agreed, while 64% voiced direct disapproval of his tariff strategy. Prices for goods and services continue to rise, and 62% cited the Trump administration’s failure to contain inflation as a key concern.
Beyond economic woes, Americans also expressed fears about government overreach and rule of law. Sixty-five percent said the Trump administration is actively trying to circumvent federal court orders, while 62% believe it disrespects the rule of law altogether. Furthermore, 64% said Trump is expanding presidential powers too far.
Yet in a notable twist, Americans still trust Trump slightly more than Democrats in Congress to manage the nation’s core problems, by a margin of 37% to 30%. However, a growing portion—30%—said they trust neither side.
“Most threatening to Trump, given his promise of an economic turnaround, is the extent of negative views on the economy,” pollsters summarized.
Independent voters are particularly skeptical, with 62% saying Trump is out of touch with everyday concerns, compared to 76% who said the same about the Democratic Party.
On the global stage, 49% of Americans said Trump’s actions have weakened U.S. leadership abroad, compared to 34% who said he has strengthened it. His handling of Russia remains contentious, with 46% saying he is too friendly toward the Kremlin.
The poll also highlighted strong opposition to some of Trump’s other initiatives:
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77% oppose cuts to medical research funding.
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70% oppose increasing federal control over private universities.
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67% oppose ending birthright citizenship.
Despite these criticisms, Trump’s Republican base remains solid. About 83% of Republicans approve of his job performance, and just 6% of his 2024 voters said they regret their choice.
The ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll surveyed 2,464 adults between April 18 and 22, 2025, in both English and Spanish, with a margin of error of ±2 percentage points.
